High-Fives at Weddings

I went to a wedding this weekend. It was gorgeous – all outside, in a warm, sunny, beautiful field, with the ceremony under a giant tree and cows grazing far off in the distance (oh, what’s that you say? It’s still cold where you live? Rain is falling in icicles? Sorry!). Basically perfect. I told Terry we have to live in a place like that some day. Plus, they had gummy bears as favors.  

But that’s not what this post is about.

This post is about a small moment (of no significance to either the bride or groom) that happened at said wedding.

I told a guy I was writing an epic fantasy novel.

And he gave me a high five! Like a serious, “For reals? That’s totally legit!” kind of high five.  With a look on his face that said, “oh man, my respect for you just went way way up.” And this is not a nerd kind of guy. This guy is a medical resident, almost a doctor. Someone totally respectable. Do you know how awesome that made me feel?! 

Let me tell you most people’s reaction when I tell them I’m writing in the fantasy genre. The conversation usually goes something like this:

Disbeliever: Oh you’re writing a book? That’s cool! What’s it about?

Me: It’s an epic fantasy novel *wait, to gauge reaction so I don’t slobber all over them with the awesomeness of all things fantasy*

Disbeliever: *Look of “Ah, you’re one of those people”* . . . Oh, that’s so cute!

Cute. They say it’s cute. Or they look at me with frantic eyes, trying to figure out if I’m secretly obsessed with Dungeons and Dragons, or if I was one of those girls who walked around campus in a cape. 

No, and no. Not that I’m opposed to the idea of wearing capes. They look comfy and all. But I’m not that girl. That’s what days like Halloween are for. Or that’s why you have kids, right? So you can play dress up with them and not have people judge you? (That’s how it is, right, friends with kids?) And I’ve never tried Dungeons and Dragons – honestly I think it sounds like fun, but that’s about as far as that thought ever goes. Terry tried it once. He said it was awesome. And then he said he never allowed himself to go back for more because he would have gotten way too into it. We’re a perfect couple that way. 

And here’s the thing. So many people wonder how I got into fantasy, while I sit here wondering how the rest of you got out of it (props to China Mieville for the perfect expression of that thought). Didn’t you all play pretend growing up? Didn’t you read stories about evil witches and sword-wielding mice who save the day? Or the Chronicles of Narnia? Or Harry Potter? Hmmm? 

Get back into people. Trust me, you are so missing out if you just let that part of yourself go. 

And go high-five your favorite fantasy author.  

 

 

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